Dual splinded shaft assembly for a clutch

ABSTRACT

A DUAL SPLINED SLEEVE WHICH WILL PROTECT THE ORIGINAL SHAFT FROM DAMAGE DUE TO HIGH ENGINE TORQUE, AND WHEREIN GREATER LATERAL RESISTANCE IS PROVIDED. WHEN THE SPLINES OF THE SHAFT BECOMES WORN AT THEIR CENTRAL PORTIONS, THE DUAL SPLINED SLEEVE IS FITTED OVER THEM SO AS TO ENGAGE THE SHAFT SPLINES AND EXTEND BEYOND THE WORN PORTIONS. AT LEAST ONE DISC MEMBER IS PROVIDED WITH AN INTERNALLY SPLINED HUB AND FRICTION FACING MEANS ON ITS OUTER PORTIONS, AND THE SPLINED HUB IS FITTED OVER THE EXTERNAL SPLINES OF THE SLEEVE SO AS TO POSITION THE FRICTION FACING MEANS FOR ENGAGEMENT BY THE CLUTCH-ACTUATING MECHANISM.

May 25, 1971 w. P. GINGERY DUAL SPLINDED SHAFT ASSEMBLY FOR A CLUTCHOriginal Filed May 31, 1967 35 PRIOR 4 35 ART 5 5 4-! \l I1 u a1 .32 2as INVENTOR WAYNE'P. GINGEBY M ATTORNEY United States Patent O l 27 126DUAL SPLINED SHAFT ASSEMBLY FOR A CLUTCH Wayne P. Gingery, Harlan, Iowa,assignor to Super-Drive Products, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif.

Original No. 3,465,860, dated Sept. 9, 1969, Ser. No. 642,363, May 31,1967. Application for reissue May 8, 1970, Ser. No. 35,835

Int. Cl. F16d 13/44, 13/58 US. Cl. 19270.13 8 Claims Matter enclosed inheavy brackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of thisreissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additionsmade by reissue.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dual splined sleeve which will protect theoriginal shaft from damage due to high engine torque, and whereingreater lateral resistance is provided. When the splines of the shaftbecome worn at their central portions, the dual splined sleeve is fittedover them so as to engage the shaft splines and extend beyond the wornportion. At least one disc member is provided with an internally splinedhub and friction facing means on its outer portions, and the splined hubis fitted over the external splines of the sleeve so as to position thefriction facing means for engagement by the clutch-actuating mechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to class 64,subclasses 1, 9 and 23; class 287, subclass 53; class 74, subclasses 595and 640; class 192, subclasses 20 and 30.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART The prior art includes the following priorpatents: 1,149,881; 1,912,412; 2,072,090; 2,415,893; 2,515,366;2,772,547; 2,773,369; 2,952,999; 2,993,579; 2,698,013; 3,020,775;3,024,626; 3,120,570; 3,210,136; 3,263,450; 3,273,415; and 3,293,884.

Some of the diflerences or advantages that the present invention hasover those prior patents is as follows:

By means of the present invention, the transmission front drive shaftcan withstand the additional forces for increased periods of time and,in addition, failure of the driven plates which attach to the frictiondiscs of the clutch proper will be eliminated. Also, with the presentinvention the original shaft will be protected from damage due to highengine torque, and the dual splined sleeve of the present invention willhave the advantage of greater lateral resistance to impact. Furthermore,the dual splined sleeves are expendable, and hence will eliminate theneed of replacing expensive parts and the attendant labor cost. Also, inaddition the dual splined sleeve can be installed at any time in thelife of the equipment without the necessity of shaft replacement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is across-sectional view of a clutch, constructed according to the presentinvention.

Re. 27,126 Re issued May 25, 1971 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED-EMBODIMENT Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicatesa clutch assembly which is adapted to be used in a suitable locationsuch as in conjunction with a transmission of a truck engine or thelike, and as shown in FIG. 1, the numeral 11 indicates an input shaftelement which has a pilot bearing 12 contiguous thereto, and the numeral13 indicates a flywheel which is arranged adjacent the shaft element 11.The numeral 14 indicates a retainer housing which may be affixed to theflywheel 13 in any suitable manner, as for example by means of securingelements 15. There is further provided a pressure plate 16 which isspaced from the flywheel 13, and a conventional center plate 17 isinterposed between the pressure plate 16 and the flywheel 13. Thenumeral 18 indicates a shaft member which has a reduced diameter, smoothend portion 19 which is contiguous to the pilot bearing 12, and theshaft member further includes an intermediate splined portion 20, aswell as a smooth section or portion 21, and a gear 22 on the end of theshaft member 18 is adapted to be used for actuating the transmission inthe usual manner.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a dualsplined sleeve 23 which includes a main body portion 24 that has ahollow interior 25 for the projection therethrough of the shaft member18. The sleeve 23 has inwardly disposed spaced parallel longitudinallyextending splines 26 which interfit and interengage with the splines 20of shaft member 18, as shown in FIG. 2 for example.

The sleeve 23 further includes a smooth portion 27 and the inner splines26 project or extend outwardly beyond the smooth portion 27 as indicatedby the numeral 28. The sleeve 23 is further provided on its outersurface with spaced parallel longitudinally extending splines or ribs 29for a purpose to be later described.

There is further provided a pair of spaced parallel clutch drivenmembers 30 and 31 which each have a centrally disposed hub 32 that isprovided with inwardly directed splines 33 for coaction and engagementwith the outer splines 29 of the sleeve 23. The clutch driven members 30and 31 further each include circular flange sections 34 which havecarrier discs 35 aflixed thereto as at 36, and facings 37 are adapted tobe secured to the carrier disc 35 as by means of rivets 38'. 7

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided aclutch superdrive, and in use with the parts arranged as shown in thedrawings it will be noted that in accordance with the present inventionthere is provided the dual splined sleeve 23 and the associated parts.Thus, the sleeve 23 has the splines 26 which mesh and engage with thesplines 20 on the shaft member 18. Also, the sleeve 23 has the outersplines 29 which mesh with and are engaged by the splines 33 of the pairof clutch driven members 30 and 31. In the drawings in FIG. [3] I thenumeral 39 indicates spring members which are adapted to engage thepressure plate 16. p

By way of background of the present invention the following issubmitted:

Recently in the last few years the truck engine industry has graduallyincreased the H.P. ratings of their diesel equipment up to a point wherethe tremendous increase in engine torque has caused the balance of thegear train to be subjected to stresses for which it was not originallydesigned. In one area in particular, namely, the transmission frontdrive shaft has not been able to withstand the new added forces for anyappreciable length of time.

In addition, a second or further point of premature failure are thedriven plates which attach to the friction discs of the clutch proper.With the present invention, these deficiences or shortcomings areovecome, and these may be considerably expensive in terms of initialcost and protection of the original of the factory assembly orequipment.

With further reference to the drawings, the dual splined sleeve 23 hasits inner diameter machined to the size and tolerances of the originaldrive shaft such as the shaft 18. The splined end of this shaft isapproximately 4" long. However, only the approximate middle one-third ofthe length of the spline gradually deforms in a radial manner as aresult of the tremendous force exerted when the clutch is engaged. Theend result of this continuous impact ultimately causes deformation tothe extent that the driven plates will not move on the shaft whenreleased by the pressure plate 16, but rather will hang up in thedeformations and as a result the clutch remains firmly locked in anengaged status or location. The dual splined sleeve 23 of the presentinvention will overcome this defect or shortcoming in the following waysor manner:

First, it will protect the original shaft 18 from damage due to highengine torque, possibly as long as the transmission remains in service,and this is because the entire length of the original splines will beengaged and not subjected to the severe pounding which heretofore tookplace.

Second, the dual splined sleeve 23 will have the distinct and importantadvantage of greater lateral resistance to impact because of theincreased diameter and resulting weight of metal between each spline andthus longer life will be assured.

Third, the dual spline sleeves 23 are expendable, and hence they willpreclude the necessity of replacing a very expensive part as well aseliminating an extremely high labor cost especially on the highway whendisassembly and reassembly of the transmission would not be necessarybecause the drive shaft would not have to be replaced.

Fourth, the dual splined sleeves 23 will have the unique feature oradvantage that they can be installed at any time within the life of theequipment without the down time for shaft replacement or the like.

In the drawings there is illustrated a companion device made necessaryby the increase in diameter of the dual splined sleeve 23. The drivenplates or members and 31 are the second most troublesome spots in clutchassemblies due to the shear in the rivets which connect the plates tothe friction discs. In the driven plates of the A present invention thenumber of rivets has been increased and the distance between rivets hasalso been increased and this assures that greater shear values areattained. It is to be noted that the hub diameter has been increased toaccommodate the dual splined drive.

Further, these previous two components are not designed to beaccessories for any particular existing manufacturers equipment and, infact, they are readily adaptable to any of the well-known domestictransmissions using a two-plate clutch.

In the present invention the parts are arranged or constructed so as toinsure long life or quiet movement between the parts, and the parts areengineered to work together in the desired manner to provide or assuredurable trouble-free use.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapesor sizes.

The pressure plate 16 is part of the existing clutch, and the flywheel13 is likewise a conventional part of a twoplate clutch assembly. Fourfriction facings 37 are provided. As shown in the drawings, there isprovided the clutch driven member 30 for the flywheel side, and there isalso the clutch driven member 31 for the pressure plate side. There isalso two facing carriers which are in the form of flat metal discs thatare fastened to the hub and hold the friction facings. The numeral 17indicates the existing center plate. The clutch sleeve retainer 14 andpart 40 are parts of the existing clutch assembly. The splined sleeve 23is machined to fit inside the clutch sleeve retainer and allow it tomove as the clutch wears. The splined sleeve 23 is machined to permitfree movement of the clutch sleeve part 40 and prevent the splinedsleeve 23 from moving backwards. The retainer housing 14 includes aninner tubular portion 41 that receives and provides clearance around thesmooth unsplined portion 27 of the sleeve 23. There is a chamfer toprotect the existing pilot bearing 12, and this is part of the flywheel13. The spline in the inside of the chamfer contact inside the bearingserves to keep the sleeve from moving forward. Parts such as the parts28 and opposite end portion of the splined sleeve serve to hold thesplined sleeve on the existing input shaft so as to prevent movementthereof.

It is to be noted that with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings,normally the shaft element 11 is continuously rotating, and it is to beunderstood that the shaft member 18 only rotates when the clutch 10 isproperly actuated or engaged. Also, with the present invention in theevent that repairs have to be made, it is only necessary generally toremove and replace the spline sleeve 23 so that it is not necessary toreplace the entire clutch. In addition, as previously stated, thepresent invention includes the previously mentioned clutch drivenmembers which have the inner splines 33 for engaging the outer splines29 on the sleeve 23, and, in addition, the clutch drive members 29 and30 have the improved mounting means for the friction facings 37.

In summary, when the central portions of the splines 20 of the shaft 18become deformed, the dual splined sleeve 23 is fitted over the shaft sothat its internal splines 26 mesh with the splines 20 beyond the wornportions, the clutch-driven members 30 and 3] are provided with outerfriction facings 37 and hubs 32 with internal splines 33, and the hubsare fitted over the sleeve 23 so that the external splines 29 of thesleeve are engaged by the hub splines 33, with the friction facings 37then being positioned for engagement by the clutch-actuating mechanism.When the sleeve 23 is fitted on the shaft 18, it is appropriately heldagainst substantially longitudinal movement relative to the shaft, suchas by the spline extensions 28 and the opposite end of the sleeve, whilethe hubs 32 are made to a combined length less than the external splines29 so that the clutch-driven members 30 and 31 can move relative to thesleeve.

It will now be clear that there is provided a device which accomplishesthe objectives heretofore set forth. While the invention has beendisclosed in its preferred form as described and illustrated herein itis not to be considered in a limited sense as there may be other formsor modifications of the invention which should also be construed to comewithin the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a clutch for a movable vehicle such as a truck, an input shaftelement, a pilot bearing positioned adjacent to said input shaftelement, a flywheel arranged contiguous to said shaft element, aretainer positioned contiguous to said flywheel and connected to saidflywheel, a pressure plate arranged in spaced apart relation withrespect to said flywheel, a center plate positioned between saidflywheel and said pressure plate, a shaft member provided with a reduceddiameter smooth end portion, said smooth end portion being arranged inengagement with said pilot bearing, said pilot bearing including anouter race and an inner race, the outer race being axially shorter thansaid inner race thereby providing an axial space between said outer raceand a sleeve, said shaft member further embodying an intermediatesplined portion, a smooth section positioned adjacent to said splinedportion; said sleeve being a dual splined expendable sleeve embodying amain body portion having a hollow interior for the projectiontherethrough of said shaft member, said sleeve being provided withinwardly disposed splines engaging the splines on said shaft memberthroughout the entire length of the splines on the shaft member, saidsleeve further including a smooth portion, the inner splines on thesleeve extending outwardly beyond the smooth portion of the sleeve, saidsleeve further being provided with a plurality of spaced longitudinallyextending splines on the outer surface thereof, a pair of spaced apartclutch driven members .each having an inwardly splined hub arranged inengagement with the outer splines of said sleeve, said center platebeing interposed between said pair of clutch driven members, said clutchdriven members each having a circular flanged section having a carrierdisc aflixed thereto, and friction facings affixed to both sides of eachof said carrier discs by rivets, said hub having sufiicient diameter forreceiving and accommodating therein said dual splined [shaft] sleeve,said sleeve serving to help prevent distortion of the shaft member andalso protect the shaft member from damage due to torque.

2. The method of providing an improved replacement clutch device foroperation with a clutch-actuating mechanism and an exteriorly splinedshaft connected to a vehicle transmission where said shaft has becomesignificant distorted at a portion of the splines thereof that extendsfor less than the entire length of said splines, without replacement ofsaid .shaft comprising the steps of providing a sleeve. having firstsplines on the interior and second splines on the exterior thereof, suchthat said first splines are longer than said significantly distortedportion of said shaft,

fitting said sleeve over said shaft with said first splines engagingsaid splines of said shaft at portions of said splines of said shaftextending beyond said significantly distored portion of said splines ofsaid shaft,

providing at least one disc member with a hub having an opening.therethrough,

forming internal splines in saidopening in said hub,

attaching friction facing means on outer portions of said disc member,

and fitting said hub of said disc member over said sleeve so that saidsplines of said hub are in engagement with said second splines, and soas to position said friction facing means where it is engageable by saidclutch-actuating mechanism.

3. The method of providing for the operation of a clutch assembly thatincludes a flywheel, a pressure plate, a center plate intermediate saidflywheel and said pressure plate, and an exteriorly splined transmissiondrive shaft inwardly of said flywheel, pressure plate and said centerplate, in which said shaft has external splines significantly distortedthrough a portion of the length of said splines less than the entirelength of said splines, and without replacing said shaft, comprising thesteps of providing a sleeve having first splines internally thereof andsecond splines on the exterior thereof, with said internal splines beinglonger than said significantly distorted portion of said splines of saidshaft, fitting said sleeve over said shaft so that said first splinesmesh with said splines on said shaft at portions of said splines on saidshaft beyond said significantly distorted portion,

holding said sleeve on said shaft so as to limit the axial movement ofsaid sleeve relative to said shaft,

providing enlarged splined openings in the hubs of a pair of discmembers such that the combined lengths of said enlarged splined openingsare less than the length of said second splines,

fitting said hubs of said disc members on said sleeve so that thesplines of said splined openings mesh with said second splines,

attaching clutch friction facings to both sides of the outer portions ofsaid disc members, I

and positioning said outer portions such that one of said outer portionsis between said center plate and said flywheel, and the other of saidouter portions is between said pressure plate and said center plate.

4. The method of providing for the operation of a clutch assembly thatincludes a flywheel, a pressure plate,

a center plate intermediate said flywheel and said pressure plate, andan exteriorly splined transmission drive shaft inwardly of saidflywheel, said pressure plate and said center plate, in which said shafthas external splines significantly distorted through a portion of thelength of said splines less than the entire length of said splines, andwithout replacing said shaft, comprising the steps of providing a sleevehaving first splines internally thereof and second splines on theexterior thereof, with said internal splines being longer than saidsignificantly distorted portion of said splines of said shaft, fittingsaid sleeve over said shaft so that said first splines mesh with saidsplines on said shaft at portions of said splines on said shaft beyondsaid significantly distorted portion,

forming a pair of members so that each has a central hub portion havingan opening therethrough and an outer flange extending radially from saidhub portion, forming internal splines in said opening in said centralhub portion of each of said members, forming a pair of annular dischaving greater outside'diameters than the outside diameters of saidouter flanges, and inside diameters less than the outside diameters ofsaid outer flanges, engaging the side of each of said outer flanges withthe side of the inner portion of one of said annular discs,

attaching one of said annular discs to each of said outer flanges at thelocation of said engagement therebetween,

attaching an annular friction facing to either side of each of saidannular discs outwardly of said outer flanges, positioning said centralhub portions on said sleeve in a spaced end-to-end relationship withsaid internal splines in said openings of said central hub portionsmeshing with said second splines of said sleeve,

and positioning said annular discs such that said friction facings onone of said annular discs are between said central plate and saidflywheel, and said friction facings on the other of said annular discsare between said center plate and said pressure plate.

5. The method as recited in: claim 4 in which, for attaching saidfriction facings to said annular discs, rivets are extended through eachof said annular discs and through the friction! facing on either sidethereof.

6. In combination with the transmission drive shaft having a gear at oneend thereof for engagement with the gears of a vehicle transmission, areduced diameter portion at the other end, and external splines adjacentsaid reduced diameter portion, which splines are significantly distortedfor a portion of the length thereof that is less than the total lengthof said splines, said splines having remaining portions which areundistorted, a clutch device comprising a sleeve,

said sleeve having internal splines longer than said distorted portionof said external splines of said shaft, said shaft being received insaid sleeve with said internal splines of said sleeve engaging saidexternal splines of said shaft,

said engagement extending beyond said significantly distorted portion ofsaid splines on said shaft to said undistorted portions of said splines,

said sleeve having external splines shorter than said internal splines,and having an unsplined outer portion adjacent one end of said sleeve,

said unsplined portion having an outside diameter less than the outsidelateral dimension of said external splines of said sleeve, duality ofclutch-driven members,

each of said members including a first element having a hub having anopening therethrough, and an outer radial flange extending from saidhub, each of said hubs having internal splines in said opening thereofmeshing with said external splines of said sleeve, with said hubs beingin an end-to-end relationship on said sleeve, each of said membershaving an annular disc having an inner portion overlapping said outerflange of said first element,

and an outer portion radially outwardly of said outer flange, each ofsaid members including meansattaching said inner portion of said annulardisc thereof to said outer flange overlapped thereby, each of saidclutch driven members including a duality of annular friction facings,

said facings engaging said outer portion of said annular disc and beingdisposed one on either side of said annular disc, and means attachingsaid friction facings to said annular discs, a flywheel means, a bearingcarried by said flywheel means and receiving said reduced diameterportion of said shaft, a center plate, a pressure plate,

said flywheel means, center plate and pressure plate being in spacedalignment, said outer portion of said annular disc and said frictionfacings of one of said members being between said flywheel means andsaid center plate,

and said outer portion of said annular disc and said friction facings ofthe other of said members being between said center plate and saidpressure plate, and a retainer housing around said center plate andpressure plate,

one end of said retainer housing being attached to said flywheel means,said retainer housing having an opposite end wall having an innertubular portion around said shaft in spaced adjacency therewith,

said unsplined portion of said sleeve extending into said inner tubularportion and being in a spaced relationship with said inner tubularportiom 7. A device as recited in claim 6 in which said means forattaching said friction facings to said discs includes rivets extendingthrough said discs and said friction facings. 8. A device as recited inclaim 6 including in addition means for limiting the axial movement ofsaid sleeve on said shaft.

References Cited The following references, cited by the Examiner, are ofrecord in the patented file of this patent or the original patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 19,876 3/1936 Criley 19270.2(X) 1,732,96510/1929 Carhart 1927 0.2 1,903,963 4/1933 Emric-k 19270.2 1,969,1498/1934 Pearmain 19270.19 2,025,098 12/1935 Dudick 192--70.2(X) 2,090,2658/1937 Padgett 19270.2(X) 2,948,557 8/1960 Howe et al. 19267(X)3,233,477 2/1966 OBrien 19270.2 (X) ALLAN D. HERRMANN, Primary ExaminerUS. Cl. 29-401, 525; 19270.2, 287-5358

